Led by Food and Beverage Supervisors Wendy Welch and Katy Koster, a group of volunteers – made up of associates from the gaming venue and their families – got the garden up and running in May. The team increased the number of beds to 35, working from the foundation set by then-Executive Chef Brian Sterner (now a divisional chef for the operating company), who launched the gardening initiative at the gaming venue last year.

The beds this year were made up of a variety that included herbs, squash, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, green beans, strawberries, blueberries, kohlrabi, eggplant, sweet corn, tomatillos, pumpkins and cabbage. The produce – grown in a greenhouse in the winter and then transferred to the raised outdoor beds – was all grown from seed, with the exception of the strawberries, blueberries, raspberry bushes and herbs, which were planted last year.

Volunteers helped prepare the existing beds after the winter and then built the additional beds before the planting process began. After planting, volunteers came out each week for weeding and picking. The produce was then donated each week to a nearby food pantry for local families in need. 

In late August and September, the volunteers operated a vegetable stand during Hamburg Gaming’s automobile “cruise nights,” with proceeds – more than $555 – benefitting the Food Bank of Western New York.

Angie Gominiak, a cocktail server at Hamburg Gaming, was among those who volunteered with her family.

“I like being able to spend time with my kids while helping with a good cause,” she said. “I like seeing how it motivated people in our community to donate after seeing the yield of hard work by our volunteers. Guests were so happy that they were asking about next year!”

About Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment
Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment is one of the most innovative gaming and racing operators in the country, owning and/or operating several successful regional destination casinos and specializing in racing venues with added amenities such as table games, video gaming machines, poker rooms, full-service restaurants, retail shops and lodging. The company operates gaming and hospitality services at locations in New York, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, West Virginia, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The company is owned by Delaware North Companies, a global leader in hospitality and one of the largest privately held companies in the world.

About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the largest and most admired privately held hospitality companies in the world. Founded and owned for nearly 100 years by the Jacobs family, it is a global leader in hospitality and food service. Its family of companies includes the newly acquired Patina Restaurant Group, Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Garden.

Through these companies, Delaware North manages and provides food and beverage concessions, premium dining, entertainment, lodging, and retail at many large venues and special places. These include high-profile venues ranging from sports stadiums, entertainment complexes, national parks, airports, and some of the top regional casinos in the country.

Delaware North Companies has revenue exceeding $3 billion annually and 60,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.

Media contact:
Charles Roberts
Corporate Communications
Delaware North Companies
716-858-5545
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